Each year, Fast Company ranks the 50 most innovative companies in the world, as well as the most innovative companies in over 40 sectors, ranging from robotics to branding to space. Fast Company specifically seeks out businesses making a “profound impact” on industry and culture.

This year, its rankings honor 410 businesses, including four with ties to Utah. Fast Company editors and writers found some of the businesses through their own research, while others were nominated through an application process.

Most innovative in transportation: Fortem Technologies

This nearly 3-year-old company was founded to develop an airway safety system that detects, identifies and coordinates removal of intruder drones, according to Fast Company. Fortem Technologies describes itself as a leader in “AI-enable airspace security and safety.”

Most innovative in enterprise: Podium

Founded in 2014, Lehi-based Podium was originally founded to help local businesses build an accurate, authentic online reputation through reviews, in an effort to counteract the trend of only angry customers leaving reviews.

Since 2014 and that original concept, the company has expanded to help local businesses solve other problems. In 2018, according to Fast Company, Podium introduced Webchat, which allows businesses to enter in text conversations with potential customers visiting their website.

With Podium, businesses can also manage message interactions from Apple, Facebook, Google and other major platforms using just one main inbox.

According to their website, Podium now boasts 130,000 users — including Vivint Smarthome, La-Z-Boy, Ken Garff and Wilson Diamonds — $96 million in funding and over 300 team members.

Most innovative in artificial intelligence: Recursion Pharmaceuticals

Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Recursion Pharmaceuticals is working to discover and develop drugs at a higher rate than ever before through the use of artificial intelligence and experimental biology.

Since the company’s founding in 2015, it’s introduced more than 50 programs. In July 2018, according to Fast Company, the FDA approved an “investigational new drug application for REC-994” as a treatment for cerebral cavernous malformation. Cerebral cavernous malformation is a genetic disease where enlarged, irregular blood vessels alter blood flow. It affects around 1.5 million Americans.

Recursion Pharmaceuticals was able to identify a drug candidate to treat cerebral cavernous malformation using a machine learning platform which analyzes billions of cellular images and maps human cellular biology. Recursion Pharmaceuticals works with data scientists, software engineers, biologists and automation specialists to create the kind of datasets leading to these kinds of drug discoveries.

The privately-held company’s main product is the DroneHunter, which uses radar technology to detect, classify, monitor and capture intruder drones at a safe distance. The technology also includes AI, machine learning and a specialized guidance system.

Fortem Technologies is headquartered in Pleasant Grove.

Most innovative in virtual/augmented reality: The VOID

According to its website, The VOID is a “whole-body, fully immersive experience,” where participants can physically experience an alternate reality through a combination of VR and physical experience — so users won’t just see things, they can smell and touch them, too.

Currently, VOID experiences include “Wreck-it-Ralph: Ralph Breaks the Internet,” “Star Wars: Secrets of the Empire,” “Nicodemus: Demon of Evanishment” and “Ghostbusters.”

The VOID is headquartered in Lindon, but has locations in the United Arab Emirates, Canada, Malaysia, California, Nevada, Florida and Texas. According to Fast Company, it is preparing to launch in nine new U.S. cities, including Atlanta, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C. The company was founded in 2016.